by G J Stevens
He told me of the seven bedrooms, offering a tour a little later on. As predictable as clockwork, Ally joked they’d only be needing one tonight, and not for sleeping.
Asking about his work, he seemed more than happy to answer. He told about the company, an outsourced research partner to a major pharmaceutical. They were concentrating on specialist areas of interest, but the conversation dropped as Ally jumped up, sending a sudden shockwave through my chest as she pronounced we should cut the chat and play a game.
A sudden dread came over me at the thought of what she might suggest.
“Hide and seek,” I blurted out.
Ally replied with a scathing look, much to Frank’s amusement.
“A game to get us closer, not further apart.”
Shrugging, I knew what her first suggestion would be just as she spoke. “Spin the bottle.”
“Don’t be too eager,” Frank replied, shutting her down with a hand in the air, just as she spoke again.
“Twister,” she said, the words turning to a high giggle.
“How about truth or dare?” I said.
Frank’s eyebrows raised, but Ally said the words I’m sure he thought.
“But you’re as pure as the driven snow. Surely you have nothing interesting to hide. If you do, just tell us,” she said, raising her eyebrows.
“Okay, not truth or dare.”
“Hey, ladies, I’m not a student anymore. Why don’t we show Catarina the view from the pool house? It’ll be dark soon.”
I saw Ally deflate as I jumped at the chance.
“I’d love to,” I said, raising up.
We stood and I followed Frank with Ally at my back.
“I’ll meet you there,” she said and veered off towards the bathroom.
As we headed through the second door, Frank spoke. “I’m sorry about Al.”
“Don’t be, it’s fine,” I said, shaking my head as he flashed a look toward me then carried on the journey.
“She’s a little overexcited I think and maybe more than a little frustrated about last time,” he replied, bunching up his cheeks as he twisted back to show his smile.
“I can imagine.”
“But I don’t think she understands that you might be nervous and not want to jump into bed as soon as you arrive,” he said, stopping to open the plastic of the pool house door.
About to reply, the words didn’t come when I saw the sky darkening from blue to a deep grey through the long wall of windows. An orange sun lit up half the horizon and reflected its beauty across the mirror-still water.
“It’s beautiful,” I said, the words barely coming out.
“It is,” he replied in a soft voice.
I turned towards him and he turned to me. Our eyes locked as he stooped and I raised up to my toes. As our lips touched, his moustache wafted across my nose. It felt as if I drew off his energy, a current working its way through my body to touch every part of my skin with a tiny crackle of electricity.
We held there for what seemed like hours, our lips not moving, pulling apart only as the door opened at our side. I drew back, fearful of her reaction.
“Now that’s better,” she said, her hands pushing out three full flutes. “Drink up,” she said, flashing her eyebrows toward me. “He’s a good kisser, isn’t he?”
I nodded with a slight bow of my head as I took a gulp of the drink before I remembered what I’d put in the glass.
Before long we took a slow walk back to the lounge, Frank and Ally drinking like it was going out of season whilst I emptied my glass at every point I could; a plant pot here, a bin there.
Arriving back, Ally made a point of topping the drinks up. Looking at the near-empty bottle I saw the thin line of crystals had settled to the bottom as bubbles streamed upward as fast as ever.
I sat, but Ally didn’t, instead walking over to Frank to plant a deep kiss on his lips. Not a sensual touch or a subtle peck, she landed a smacker of a mouth-shaker as if she was feeding on his face. Both took deep breaths when she eventually pulled back so I could see their lips red and bloated.
Ally turned toward me and I knew what would come next. I pushed myself back into the seat, barely hearing Frank’s words as I stared at the wide grin walking towards me.
“Al. Be gentle.”
Ally turned back to him with a devil’s expression, one eyebrow raised and a wide grin pulling at the same side of her face. She turned back, her head bearing in toward me as she lowered, her lips soon plunging onto mine with a gentle touch that took me by surprise.
She kept still at first then slowly increased the pressure, moving her mouth. From nowhere and without thought, I replied with my own force, then my tongue, feeling her surprise at its touch, soon matching the dance with her own.
In the moment I could have been anywhere. In the moment I had no cares in the world, everything forgotten. Kissing Ally felt the most natural feeling in the world; so much different to Frank only moments earlier.
The world came into focus as she drew back, but only my surroundings. For a moment, as I regained my breath, I forgot all about who I really was. This was everything. In this room and standing in front of me was Ally and her wide, eager smile.
“Don’t worry. She gives as good as she gets,” Ally said, turning to Frank and both of us giggling at the tent in his trousers.
The kiss. Frank’s words. Maybe the alcohol. Maybe the drugs. Any one of those could have decided; it was time to lose what I hadn’t been trying to keep.
Standing with a great confidence, I watched Ally knock back her drink, her eyes lighting as she clearly liked what she saw in my expression.
Handing the empty glass to Frank who looked on, his eyes wide as if about to burst, I pulled her face towards mine and drove my tongue into her mouth.
She responded in kind, pulling me towards her by my shoulders, our chests touching, both of us releasing a moan of pleasure. As we kissed, her hands ran down my back, stopping as they reached the arch to pull up my top. I pulled away from her lips, raising my hands into the air and she had my top off within a breath, throwing it for Frank to catch.
Our lips met once again and Ally turned me to the side, pulling back for a moment to beam towards Frank. I didn’t glance in his direction, instead kept my attention on her lips until she turned back to find me again.
It was my turn and with my hands at her back, I grabbed her top and pulled it free as we parted. I didn’t stop there; instead my fingers found the clasp of her crimson bra, just like mine in every other way and she eagerly let her arms up to be freed, swinging the discards in Frank’s direction.
I pushed my face back to hers, my hands touching at the softness of her breasts at what seemed like a furious pace, pinching her nipples between my fingers. My bra had gone before I’d realised her fingers and thumb were tugging at the end of my stiff nipples.
I bent, sucking hers into my mouth, slowing and taking my time with each as her head threw back with sharp breaths synchronised with the rise and fall of her chest. She held the back of my head tight, pressing further until I pulled up and she bent, her mouth taking its turn on mine.
I let out a deep moan as her finger brushed between my legs; my muschi, letting out a rush of laughter, a shower of sparks flying up my body.
She stood and backed herself up, licking drips from her finger as if it were an ice cream.
“She’s fucking soaking wet,” she said, her voice breathy.
I didn’t move to see Frank’s face, but I imagined him holding himself, stiff in his hands, unable to do anything but stroke. The thoughts vanished as in one move she turned me on the spot and she pushed me back, dropping me to the sofa. I closed my eyes as she pulled my legs into the air, tugging my knickers past my feet and spreading me wide before burying her head between.
Her tongue danced and too soon I burst in an explosion as I forced her head deeper into my crotch, screaming out as waves of joy kept washing over.
I took a deep breath and watc
hed Ally’s head bob up as she lowered my legs, her wide grin soaked.
I smiled back, a little coy as I took in the warm glow embracing my body, bucking at every tiny movement of her hand between my legs.
A strange breathy noise turned us both in Frank’s direction.
He was asleep with his head tilted to the side, the zip of his trouser open, but whatever lived there had crawled back inside. In his hand were my knickers, the crotch still damp, the rest of our clothes spread around him. Ally turned back, at first wide-eyed, then gave a huge yawn and I replied with my own.
“That wasn’t quite the reaction I was expecting,” I said to Ally with a furrowed brow.
“It might have been my fault,” she replied, wiping her face with her hand before licking at her fingers. “I thought we might need to liven up, so I put a little something in the champagne. I guess I got the wrong ones,” she said, pulling a great yawn again. “I think we need to get him to bed.”
“But it’s your turn,” I replied, trying not to smirk too much.
She paused, but only for a moment, lingering on his sorry sight before she took my hand, leading me up the stairs and to the bedroom.
Within another half an hour, we were both spent twice over and fell asleep in each other’s arms.
When I woke the lamp was still on at the side of the bed and it was dark beyond the curtains.
With my head throbbing and mouth baked, I licked at my dry lips and memories flooded back, as did the picture of the fruit bowl in the kitchen.
Pulling up with care from the bed, I watched as Ally turned to her side, still naked but facing away. I bit my lip at the curve of her ass, but pulled myself from the sight and taking great care, edged my way down the stairs.
Frank lay slumped where we’d left him in the living room, the light off as he gently snored, our clothes still covering him and my damp underwear in his hand.
Feeling a pang of guilt at what he’d missed, I grabbed my top and skirt with care, leaving my underwear in his hand.
When he woke he’d be disoriented as hell and he’d know something had gone on, but he’d missed it all.
Leaning down in front of his face I stopped myself from kissing his forehead. Instead I stared, wondering if he really could be at the centre of why I’d been sent to this country. His street. With Ally.
His snore changed tone and I hurried to the kitchen. The bunch was still there and I leafed through each of the metal keys, finding the one matching the brand of the door lock I’d memorised, pulling it free from the ring.
I left, pushing the key to the inside pocket of my coat and crept upstairs, laying my clothes on a pile on top of my bag at the foot of the bed before turning off the lamp and covering myself and Ally with the quilt.
Tucking myself in, I shuffled up to Ally and felt her warmth as I spooned against her skin. She purred at my touch; I wanted so much for her to wake as I pressed at her back. I wanted a repeat, but my eyes refused to stay open, soon losing myself to sleep.
27
My first recollection was the pounding pressure in my head. Then movement beside me.
For a moment I flushed with panic, unable to recall who I’d see stirring in the bed with me.
Was it Frank? Had I done the deed? Would I be a different person in his eyes now?
Turing onto my side and opening my eyes, I caught sight of Ally squinting back with a smile tucked into the corner of her mouth. A deja vu moment, but no, this wasn’t the same.
“Good morning,” she said in her silky voice, only a little sleep hardened as the night flooded back.
I’d got the key and Ally helped me, although she had no clue.
“You were right, by the way?” she said, interrupting my thoughts as snapshots of last night flew across my view.
“About what?”
“Everything is more than fine down there,” she said with her grin going wider and her eyebrows raising.
I burst out laughing as she reminded me of the conversation in her garden only days after we’d first met. Then the laughter dampened as I concentrated on the building memories.
Creeping down the stairs with no clothes on. Checking up on Frank and getting the key.
For a moment I panicked, until I remembered pushing it into my coat hanging in the under-stairs cupboard.
Ally shuffled closer and I could smell myself on her breath. For a short moment I wondered if she recognised her scent from my lips.
Dr Devlin’s voice sprung into my head, asking those same questions he had during Selection. I wonder if I’d tell him the truth if he asked me again.
The thought vanished, as did the banging in my head with Ally’s warm hand tracing my naked thigh. I relaxed to my back without conscious thought, my head still turned and gaze fixed on hers. My legs opened to let her fingers fill the space between them, my hand wandering across her body and hers reacted the same as I had, with my fingers tracing a mirror of her path to find her tuft of hair and that tender spot.
She closed her eyes and I followed suit, both of us letting out a gentle moan.
The door flew open and our fingers stopped. Our eyes darted wide to see Frank stood at the door, blinking towards us. In his left hand he still held the white underwear he’d gifted to me.
“What happened?” he said, squinting at the bed.
Ally left her hand in place as she spoke. “It was me, I’m afraid. I thought we all needed something to keep us awake, but it seems I might have put the wrong stuff in the champagne,” she said.
I kept my eyes on him as he carried on blinking, his expression unsure of where to settle.
“Oh my god. All I can remember was you two kissing, then…” He looked at the fine material in his hand.
“They’re mine,” I said. “But you can keep them.”
He looked up, giving an uncertain smile.
I bucked as Ally moved her finger, swinging like a pendulum from side to side. I replied in kind with a determination not to be the one who gave away the game we were playing under the covers.
“Did you pass out too?” Frank said with a hopeful look.
“Yes,” we replied in unison.
“But you somehow managed to get up here.”
“Just about,” Ally said.
“I, I,” he stuttered, rubbing his head with his hand before he realised he was still holding my underwear. “Oh my god. I can remember you getting undressed then I couldn’t fight it any longer.”
With the pressure building in my chest, her hand stopped when Frank spoke again, this time his tone decisive and business-like.
“Look, we’ll pick this up again soon, but I got a call. I’ve got to go to an important meeting. Cat, your car is outside when you’re ready and Jeeves is downstairs. Al, get dressed, you need to drive.”
Her fingers pulled away and I felt a sudden void, desperate for her touch again. I pulled my hand away just as she leafed open her side of the covers and, jumping from the bed, she put her fingers to her mouth, kissing the tip whilst Frank’s eyes widened at the sight of her naked body.
As she moved towards him he turned to me with expectation, but I wasn’t moving. His eyes near split wide open as Ally kissed him deeply, his brow furrowing for a moment as he licked his lips, watching as my smile turned to a grin.
28
Showered and changed into my jeans and t-shirt, I was in the car within half an hour. With a fleeting goodbye, Frank and Ally following me out into their car as I pulled away. Our paths went different ways as we hit the end of the long tree-lined driveway.
I wasn’t sure if it was thoughts of the night before, her hands, her mouth all over me, or the pain killers Ally had passed over as we kissed one last time before leaving, but I felt enveloped in warmth, wrapped in comfort, my head filled with her smile as I half lay, half sat in the deep leather seat.
The feeling never left throughout the journey and as I trudged up the stairs, giving a waved hello to the family sat around for dinner, falling to the bed.<
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I’d slept for twelve hours that night, having woken at eleven, but still I fell into a warm deep sleep as my head touched the pillow.
I surfaced the following morning and set about my tasks with a vigour only slightly lacking from my normal energy. I was up by five, but bypassed the computer. I hadn’t made a report in weeks, then again I had nothing to say and I knew their limited vocabulary already. No one could say I wasn’t observing up close.
Lenart was up and in the kitchen with his coffee. I wished him a good morning and he asked me what I had to be so happy about. I felt like telling him. I almost blurted out that I’d fallen in love, but the words shocked me even as they formed silently in my head.
Could that be it?
Could that be the warm fuzzy feeling?
Lenart saw me drifting off and shot me back to the room.
“We need to talk tonight,” he said with a stern voice. “Please be available for eight.”
“What are we talking about?” I said, my voice soft.
“I’ll tell you tonight,” he said, pouring the hot coffee down his throat before he turned, disappearing for the rest of the day.
I dismissed the conversation. What was the worst he could do?
I’d completed the bulk of the chores by the time Celina returned from taking the kids to school and she hovered by my side as I finished up the washing.
“Nice bra,” she said as I folded the underwear now separated from its sibling.
“Thanks,” I replied, offering nothing else. “Lenart wants to talk to me tonight. Do you know what that’s all about?”
She didn’t speak straight away, as if waiting for her courage to build.
“He thinks you're out too much.” She held her hands in the air, palm towards me. “I keep telling him you’re young, but he says you have a job to do.”
“I’ve stayed out for three nights in total? I don’t get it. Is there something wrong with my work?”
“No and I told him that, but he said my standards are too low.”
“What do you think he’ll do?”
